source: New Orleans Uncensored

As a native of Louisiana, I know a fair bit about New Orleans. Having lived both there (N.O.) and Manhattan, NY, I promise you the best restaurants in America are in those 2 cities. I digress. There has been (and continues to be) a very large amount of corruption in New Orleans and Louisiana (in general). As noted by others, former police chief Joseph L. Scheuring was charged with malfeasance in office. He was also convicted of several other crimes. That is the tip of the iceberg. Police abuse got much worse; especially with the African-American community. After Hurricane Katrina (in 2005), many officers were arrested and convicted of crimes. The best aspect of this film is it gives a great view of New Orleans circa 1955. In short: A William Castle (king of the B-Movies) piece of cheese.

...so I'm watching this B-grade waterfront drama and suddenly I see Ed Nelson in a fight scene. Ed went on to star in dozens of tv shows in the 50's and 60's. Excellent actor. But let's not forget Arthur Franz, who was also quite good. Released the year I was born, I was too young to see 'New Orleans Uncensored' at the local theater, though I begged mommy and daddy to take me. Did I pitch a fit...My first tantrum. Oh well, I had to settle on a Disney flick years later. 'Son of Flubber', I think. Hey, I just had a thought. How many people who posted a review on this website fifteen or twenty years ago are still alive? Am I still alive as you read this? Who knows...

I managed to catch this on one of the TV channels that specializes in broadcasting older movies. It caught my attention because I have a long, loving relationship with New Orleans and surrounding areas, having visited first in the 1950s when this movie was filmed, and later living there from 1973 to 1986. It is about crooks, switching crates and papers at the docks as a way to steal goods. Even back then they had an electronic device which allowed them to track the movement of a particular crate, instrumental in busting the crime ring. It was also particular interesting that a number of prominent New Orleans locals were used in the cast. When they were in a group scene with experienced actors it was easy to pick out the non-actors. Among them were locals Al Chittenden (long time president of local union 1418), Joseph L. Scheuering (superintendent of police, charged in 1952 with malfeasance in office), Victor Schiro (who later became Mayor from 1961 to 1970), Howard L. Dey (who became Fire Superintendent), Pete Herman (who was an all-time great bantamweight world champion), Ralph Dupas (fisherman), and Judge Walter B. Hamlin (who later served as the chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court). No doubt the inclusion of politicians and high law enforcement personnel gave the movie some advantage in its production. As a side note there was quite a bit of police corruption in New Orleans in that period, the 1950s. Good movie for the location and the period, but nothing more than a B-movie.

"New Orleans Uncensored" sounds like some sort of porno flick, but it isn't. It's a dandy crime film, much like the Louisiana version of "On the Waterfront". Like in this other film, it's about a thug and his goons who want to run the docks....and pilfer as much cargo as they can. Into this racket arrives a new guy, Dan (Arthur Franz) and he soon gets pulled into this mess. Can Dan possibly survive or will he end up pushing up daisies like two of his new and fated friends. This is a very good story and although it doesn't star any big names, a lot of 1950s and 60s character actors are in it and they do a great job. I enjoyed not only the story and the acting...but also loved seeing 1950s New Orleans and its French Quarter. If you've been to this great city, you'll enjoy seeing the likes of Antoine's and Cafe du Monde...as well as many great institutions that have long since vanished. Well worth seeing. By the way, one minor gripe I have about the movie are the characters Marie and Alma. The two actresses (Beverly Garland and Helene Stanton) look so similar that I was confused until I could figure out how to tell them apart!

Similar to its Brother-Genre "Police Procedural", is the Sub-Genre that Emerged in the Low-Budget World of B-Movies in the 50's were "Exposes" with Sub-Titles like "Uncensored, Confidential, Exposed" Etc. Usually Attached to a Big-City or Big-Corps (Garments, Docks) that Organized Crime Infiltrated after the Repeal of Prohibition. Most were Unremarkable, although a Few like "Kansas City Confidential" (1955) and "The Phenix City Story" (1955) are Bona-Fide Classics of the Genre. This One, takes an Obvious Cue from "On the Waterfront" (1952) the Marlon Brando Award Winner. It Pales in Comparison but does have a Certain Gravitas Helped by B-Movie Stalwart Director William Castle. Arthur Franz who Made quite an Impression in the Psychological, Pathological, Film-Noir "The Sniper" (1952), is Solid as the Protagonist. Also some Good Character Actors like Mike Mazurki, Michael Ansara, and B-Movie Babe Beverly Garland Help this Rise Above Average. The On-Location New Orleans Footage Helps Set the Stage and the Movie Contains some Genuine Intrigue of Mob Infiltration, On the Docks Violence, and Worker Intimidation. Overall, Better than Most.

This waterfront drams is set in the French Quarter and on the docks of New Orleans. The film has everything for a low budget film that is worth watching. The viewer is in the action from the opening sequence. Freight is being stolen from the docks and there several suspects. We're not kept in the dark over who dunnit. Instead, we watch as a crime network is destroyed. An especially bright spot is the beautiful Beverly Garland who performs very well Beside her, other stars and supporting actots tell an engrossing story with the help of tight writing, editing and direction. A downside is the camerawork. Though sufficient, there are many ill advised angles as if the photographer were stretching for an arty, noir look but failed. Otherwise this is a fine movie. Suspenseful though we know the guilty party ... that's hard to do but NEW ORLEANS CONFIDENTIAL does it and then some in captivating style.

NEW ORLEANS UNCENSORED - 1955 This film which was made on location in New Orleans is the "true" story of one man's battle with the mob. Arthur Franz plays a just discharged navy man who ends up in New Orleans looking for work. He hits the docks looking for a job as a longshoreman. It does not take long before he becomes involved in the seamy side of dock life. Kick-backs to the union bosses, stolen cargo, or as they say, "misplaced" cargo, and even murder. When a friend is killed off for rocking the boat, Franz decides to get some pay back. He tells the police he will go undercover and get the goods on the mob boss, Michael Ansara. Ansara plays the mobster with the unlikely name of Floyd "Zero" Saxon. When Ansara catches wind of the police investigation, he decides to bump off Franz. There is a dockside chase and a blazing gun battle before all is put right and Ansara is disposed of. There is some great back and forth between Franz and Beverly Garland who plays the mobster's girl. While Garland and Franz are doing a little couch wrestling, she cracks, "Be sure not to skid on the curves!" While the film does slide a bit in the middle, overall it gets the job done. William Castle handles the direction and gets the most out of the cast and crew despite what must have been a shoestring budget. Though known for a string of horror films in the late 50's and early 60's. Castle pumped out some good b features earlier in his career. These include, THE WHISTLER, THE FAT MAN, SLAVES OF BABYLON, DRUMS OF TAHITI, BATTLE OF ROGUE RIVER, THE AMERICANO, UNDERTOW and the excellent noir, JOHNNY STOOL PIGEON. Long serving cinematographer, Henry Freulich handles the lensing of the film. Some of his better known films are, IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA, SHADOWED, BOSTON BLACKIE GOES Hollywood, CHINATOWN AT MIDNIGHT, BUNCO SQUAD, UNDER THE GUN, THE CROOKED WEB, Miami STORY and GOOD DAY FOR A HANGING. Well worth a watch.

Typical film noir style narration gives an instant cliché to the proceedings of this waterfront story of organized crime infiltration to the ports of New Orleans, the second largest in the United States. Illegal trafficking of stolen goods is being disguised through seemingly honest dealings, and the results have devastating effects for the honest Arthur Franz who must console the widow of a friend who is murdered as a part of a gangland strike and deal with a trampy gangster's moll who uses him to get information. Beverly Garland and Helene Stanton, the two women in the film, resemble each other so much with the bleached-blonde hair, but one is obviously good, the other totally bad. This leads to confusion as to who is who in Franz's life every time each one of them is seen with him, as the two women never inter-cross. There's plenty of violence on this waterfront, Franz getting himself deeper into trouble by interfering in the daily goings on as he begins to realize what's happening. When he finally does get involved in exposing this racket, the results are predictable, with his life at stake as the mob gets a hint as to what he's really up to. This really doesn't take you much into New Orleans' famous nightlife down on Bourbon Street, simply a waterfront story that could be told about any port city. Considering the historical hurricane that New Orleans survived, the opening and closing air shots of the city are rather frightening, knowing that 50 years later, much of what is seen here would end up under water.

Convincing story of docklands pilfering racket with actual pols playing themselves, narrated at start and finish. Lots of shots of New Orleans, not all of them flattering. There is a prolonged climax with fast pace, twists and violence starting when he kills the guy. The protagonist becomes an expert on police work when he takes his findings to the authorities.